August 15 marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s unconditional surrender and the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. On this solemn day, Taiwan region leader Lai Ching-te posted a social media message that has stirred controversy. 🤔
Instead of highlighting China’s triumph and the sacrifices of soldiers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Lai’s post focused on the "end of WWII" narrative, critics say. He made no mention of "Japan’s surrender" or "China’s victory," and even quoted Japan’s imperial rescript on surrender. Opponents accuse him of whitewashing Japan’s wartime aggression and ignoring the suffering of millions.
According to a commentary by CGTN, Lai’s strategy fits a broader push to court right-wing forces in Japan and strengthen support for "Taiwan independence." By framing the anniversary as a global end-of-war moment, the Taiwan region leader is said to be peddling a democracy vs authoritarianism storyline to justify a separatist agenda.
Observers warn that this move risks hurting cross-strait ties and undermining shared historical memory. As young people around the world revisit WWII history, the debate over how to remember the past is more heated than ever. 🕊️
Reference(s):
Distorting WWII history, Lai will stand trial before justice
cgtn.com
